Phoenix, AZ – Late last night, members of
the United States Marshals Violent Offender Task Force captured Walter Furrh,
51, in the area of Chandler Blvd and 48th St in Phoenix. Walter Furrh was
wanted by the Tucson Police Department for Robbery.

Furrh, whom authorities dubbed the “Manila Bandit”, is alleged to have
robbed numerous banks around the Tucson area from July 2010 to December
2010. Furrh was called the “Manila Bandit” because it is alleged that he
would present the teller a manila envelope and demand that the money be
placed in the envelope during some of the robberies. The Tucson Police
Department conducted a lengthy investigation and was able to identify Furrh
as the suspect. On December 28, 2010, a warrant was issued by the Pima
County Superior Court for the arrest of Furrh. Soon thereafter, the Tucson
Police Department requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Violent
Offender Task Force to locate and arrest Furrh.

Last night, members of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force located
Furrh in the area of Chandler Blvd and 48th St. in Phoenix. After a brief
surveillance Furrh was arrested and subsequently booked into the Maricopa
County Jail pending extradition to Pima County.

United States Marshal David Gonzales praised this collaborative law
enforcement effort adding, “The level of cooperation exhibited between
agencies during this fugitive investigation was second to none. The United
States Marshals Service is committed to providing our state and local
partners every available resource in our arsenal to help bring those who
victimize our communities to justice, such as Walter Furrh.”

The U.S. Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement
agency. Annually, U.S. Marshals arrest more than 50 percent of all federal
fugitives and serve more federal warrants than all other federal agencies
combined.